City and county officials have prepared a letter urging the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to see that the former Farmland plant on the east edge of Lawrence remains an industrial site. The county approved the letter Monday, and the city commission will take it up at tonight's meeting.

KDHE also will be asked to not allow sale of the site to a third party in a way that would cause the agency to lose control of remediation funds now held in Farmland Industries Kansas Remediation Trust. More than $7 million of the $10 million fund is earmarked for the Lawrence site.

"With respect to the future land use at the Farmland site, the city and county have said for years that they would like to see the site redeveloped into an industrial or business park," the letter states.

The city and county also want to play a role with KDHE in any controls on the use of various portions of the site.

At least two private firms have expressed interest in buying the site for redevelopment with scenarios that would include the possibility of residential and commercial uses of the property.